Legio I Germanica

Legio I Germanica was a legion of the Roman Army which existed from 48 BC to 70 AD. It was raised by Julius Caesar during his war with Pompey, and it fought at the Battle of Pharsalus. The legion was later inherited by Augustus, and it had the cognomen "Augusta" until it suffered a humiliating defeat in Hispania Tarraconensis at the hands of the Cantabri, who stole their standard. At the turn of the century, it was sent to the Rhine frontier of Germania, and it took part in Nero Claudius Drusus' German campaigns; Drusus was popular, and he made sure that his men were honored properly. In 14 AD, the legion mutinied, and the mutiny's leaders were executed, while the legion went back to duty in Germania Inferior to continue fighting along the Rhine and Danube. After the death of Nero and the start of the Year of Four Emperors in 69 AD, the Batavii rebelled against the Roman Empire, with their leader Gaius Julius Civilis obtaining the legion's loyalty. After the rebellion was quelled, the Roman emperor Vespasian himself came to the Rhine and disbanded the legion, and the remnants merged with Legio VII Gemina.